Fishing report. Out with Mike.

Having heard of the bass activity on the St. Johns lately I got with Mike and went to see what we could find. Early start and a trip by the bait shop. Yes, yes, I know, I know........I bought live bait. Almost unheard of but it happened today. A dozen shiners and 2 dozen minnows and I was thinking I was ready to go. We pitched some jigs close to the ramp and put our first fish in the boat on a 1/8oz Hackle Gray Ghost I had tied. Not much happening there so north we went. First spot was where I fished last week and the activity was still going on all around us with big fish popping and chasing bait. The artificial's I brought today brought zero bass to the boat, so when we moved I fixed Mike up with a good rod and a shiner and cork. Wasn't long before the rod got a serious bend and the fight was on. I knew it wasn't a LMB by the fight and sure enough, about a 5lb Catfish came to the net. He really likes the fight with those big ones. Released without incident, it was back to business. I was pitching different things and catching Crappie and Gills pretty good. Not too long after the whisker trout I looked over to see Mike wrestling with another player, but this one was different. Drag slipping and rod digging deep and a genuine fight was going on. I reeled up real quick and headed for the net.Took a minute or two but eventually a nice Largemouth came close enough to be scooped. Guessed at about 4 1/2lbs and not a mark on it, a real pretty fish. Released for another day, it was back to looking for the next player. I kept looking for the stripers that I knew were around to grab a line but it never happened. Mike proved his skills as a net man today when I had a nice Crappie on by a hint of a piece of skin. I soft played the fish and told Mike to hurry and get the net and just as he reached and I guided the fish close the jig popped loose and he scooped at the same time and came up with the fish. Good Job!! I, on the other hand, was in need of some remedial training. When he had a dinner plate size fish on I reached for the net and started his way but the jig pulled a second to soon and even my dive to make the Hail Mary scoop came up empty. Some days I'm better than others. The shiners ran out and no other takers came to play so it was on to pitching tipped jigs around anything fishy we could find. All totaled at the end of the day we had the ten fish in the pic, the LMB I spoke of and the Catfish too. About One o'clock the rain started making circles on the surface as we were contemplating another move so we called it a day. The glassy calm conditions we had enjoyed most of the day were about to change. Good call as it came with a vengeance, with some hail bouncing off the deck as we were putting her on the trailer. Pants soaked by the time we drove home I was glad the rain was behind us and we were able to get her placed and covered before it hit at home. A very good day for us with everything working as it should and the fish cooperating. The 'Gill in the pic was my fish of the day. I was pitching a 1/32 Beetle Spin, white w/red dot, and he hit it like a hammer! No mistaking the take and stellar fight he gave. Definite fillet size and made the cut for dinner. Mike has a covered area so he got to take the fish and have a good dinner. Thanks for taking the time to read this and visiting with Mike and I today, we were truly blessed.......Skeet